Endophytic fungi as a promising biocontrol agent to protect wheat from Fusarium graminearum head blight

Plant Disease ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Albert Noel ◽  
Ludmilla Roze ◽  
Mikaela Breunig ◽  
Frances Trail
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Endophytic Fungi ◽  
Seed Weight ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Head Blight ◽  
Species Definitions

The search for beneficial endophytes that can be part of a constructed microbial community has increased in recent years. We characterized three endophytic fungi previously isolated from wheat for their in vitro and in planta antagonism toward the Fusarium head blight pathogen, Fusarium graminearum. The endophytes were phylogenetically characterized and shown to be Alternaria destruens, Fusarium commune, and Fusarium oxysporum. Individual fungal endophytes significantly increased seed weight and lowered the accumulation of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol compared to F. graminearum infected wheat heads without endophyte pretreatment. Investigation into the mechanism of competition in vitro showed that endophytes competitively excluded F. graminearum by pre-emptive colonization and possible inhibition over a distance. Investigations on the use of these endophytes in the field are in progress. Identification of these three endophytes highlights a common quandary in searching for beneficial microbes to use in agriculture: species definitions often do not separate individual isolates’ lifestyles. A greater understanding of the risks in using intraspecies variants for biocontrol is needed and should be examined in the context of the ecology of the individuals being investigated.

scholarly journals Fungal Endophytes Control Fusarium graminearum and Reduce Trichothecenes and Zearalenone in Maize

Toxins ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed F. Abdallah ◽  
Marthe De Boevre ◽  
Sofie Landschoot ◽  
Sarah De Saeger ◽  
Geert Haesaert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Agricultural Science ◽  
Ear Rot ◽  
Seedling Blight ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Detoxification Mechanisms ◽  
Comparative Trials

Fusarium graminearum can cause Giberella Ear Rot (GER) and seedling blight in maize, resulting in major yield losses. Besides GER, the infected grains are consequently contaminated with multiple mycotoxins of F. graminearum. Zearalenone and trichothecenes, such as deoxynivalenol and its acetylated forms, are among the major mycotoxins associated with F. graminearum infection in maize. In the current work, we explored the effect of the endophytic fungal genera of Epicoccum and Sordaria, to control F. graminearum infection in comparative trials with Piriformospora spp., an elusive endophytic genus. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of these endophytes on zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol levels using in vitro and in planta assays. As plants are endowed with several detoxification mechanisms comprising e.g., glucosylation of trichothecenes, the effect of the isolated fungal endophytes on the deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside level was also assessed. In general, results showed a considerable variability in the antifungal activity, both among species and among isolates within one species. Additionally, the effect on mycotoxin levels was variable, and not necessarily related to the antifungal activity except for zearalenone levels which were consistently reduced by the endophytes. These results highlight the great potential of certain endophytic fungal strains as new biocontrol agents in agricultural science.

scholarly journals Toxigenic Capacity and Trichothecene Production by Fusarium graminearum Isolates from Argentina and Their Relationship with Aggressiveness and Fungal Expansion in the Wheat Spike

2014 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Malbrán ◽  
C. A. Mourelos ◽  
J. R. Girotti ◽  
P. A. Balatti ◽  
G. A. Lori
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Head Blight ◽  
Variable Intensity ◽  
Polymerase Chain

At least 20 epidemics of Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat have been registered in the last 50 years in Argentina, with variable intensity. Damage induced by the disease is further aggravated by the presence of mycotoxins in affected grains that may cause health problems to humans and animals. The trichothecene chemotype was analyzed for 112 isolates of Fusarium graminearum from Argentina by polymerase chain reaction and two field trials were conducted to study the aggressiveness of a subsample of 14 representative isolates and to analyze deoxynivalenol (DON) production in planta and in vitro. All isolates belonged to the 15-acetyl-DON chemotype. Significant differences were observed in both the symptom severity induced in wheat spikes and the in vivo DON production, and a close correlation was found between these two variables. However, in vitro toxigenic potential was not correlated with the capacity of F. graminearum isolates to produce DON under natural conditions. The progress of infection in the rachis of inoculated wheat spikes was analyzed and the pathogen presence verified in both symptomatic and symptomless spikes. Even isolates with a limited capacity to induce symptoms were able to colonize the vascular tissue and to produce considerable amounts of DON in planta.

scholarly journals The Fusarium graminearum t-SNARE Sso2 Is Involved in Growth, Defense, and DON Accumulation and Virulence

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 888-901
Author(s):  
Sean P. O’Mara ◽  
Karen Broz ◽  
Marike Boenisch ◽  
Zixuan Zhong ◽  
Yanhong Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Deletion Mutant ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Head Blight ◽  
Double Deletion

The plant-pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum, causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease on small grain cereals, produces toxic trichothecenes that require facilitated export for full virulence. Two potential modes of mycotoxin transport are membrane-bound transporters, which move toxins across cellular membranes, and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE)-mediated vesicular transport, by which toxins may be packaged as cargo in vesicles bound for organelles or the plasma membrane. In this study, we show that deletion of a gene (Sso2) for a subapically localized t-SNARE protein results in growth alteration, increased sensitivity to xenobiotics, altered gene expression profiles, and reduced deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation in vitro and in planta as well as reduced FHB symptoms on wheat. A double deletion mutant generated by crossing the ∆sso2 deletion mutant with an ATP-binding cassette transporter deletion mutant (∆abc1) resulted in an additive reduction in DON accumulation and almost complete loss of FHB symptoms in planta. These results suggest an important role of Sso2-mediated subapical exocytosis in FHB progression and xenobiotic defense and are the first report of an additive reduction in F. graminearum DON accumulation upon deletion of two distinct modes of cellular export. This research provides useful information which may aid in formulating novel management plans of FHB or other destructive plant diseases.

scholarly journals Potential of Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca Strain Pcho10 as a Biocontrol Agent Against Fusarium graminearum

2014 ◽  
Vol 104 (12) ◽  
pp. 1289-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiqun Hu ◽  
Qixun Gao ◽  
Mohamed Sobhy Hamada ◽  
Dawood Hosni Dawood ◽  
Jingwu Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Head Blight ◽  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Pseudomonas Chlororaphis ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Head Blight ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Microbial Identification

To develop an effective biocontrol strategy for management of Fusarium head blight on wheat caused by Fusarium graminearum, the bacterial biocontrol agent Pcho10 was selected from more than 1,476 wheat-head-associated bacterial strains according to its antagonistic activity in vitro. This strain was subsequently characterized as Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, assays of the BIOLOG microbial identification system, and unique pigment production. The major antifungal metabolite produced by Pcho10 was further identified as phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN) on the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance data. The core PCN biosynthesis gene cluster in Pcho10 was cloned and sequenced. PCN showed strong inhibitory activity against F. graminearum conidial germination, mycelial growth, and deoxynivalenol production. Tests both under growth chamber conditions and in field trials showed that Pcho10 well colonized on the wheat head and effectively controlled the disease caused by F. graminearum. Results of this study indicate that P. chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca Pcho10 has high potential to be developed as a biocontrol agent against F. graminearum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of P. chlororaphis for the management of Fusarium head blight.

scholarly journals The Stress-Activated Protein Kinase FgOS-2 Is a Key Regulator in the Life Cycle of the Cereal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1142-1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thuat Van Nguyen ◽  
Wilhelm Schäfer ◽  
Jörg Bormann
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Deletion Mutants ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Head Blight ◽  
Food And Feed

Fusarium graminearum is one of the most destructive pathogens of cereals and a threat to food and feed production worldwide. It is an ascomycetous plant pathogen and the causal agent of Fusarium head blight disease in small grain cereals and of cob rot disease in maize. Infection with F. graminearum leads to yield losses and mycotoxin contamination. Zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are hazardous mycotoxins; the latter is necessary for virulence toward wheat. Deletion mutants of the F. graminearum orthologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hog1 stress-activated protein kinase, FgOS-2 (ΔFgOS-2), showed drastically reduced in planta DON and ZEA production. However, ΔFgOS-2 produced even more DON than the wild type under in vitro conditions, whereas ZEA production was similar to that of the wild type. These deletion strains are dramatically reduced in pathogenicity toward maize and wheat. We constitutively expressed the fluorescent protein dsRed in the deletion strains and the wild type. Microscopic analysis revealed that ΔFgOS-2 is unable to reach the rachis node at the base of wheat spikelets. During vegetative growth, ΔFgOS-2 strains exhibit increased resistance against the phenylpyrrole fludioxonil. Growth of mutant colonies on agar plates supplemented with NaCl is reduced but conidia formation remained unchanged. However, germination of mutant conidia on osmotic media is severely impaired. Germ tubes are swollen and contain multiple nuclei. The deletion mutants completely fail to produce perithecia and ascospores. Furthermore, FgOS-2 also plays a role in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related signaling. The transcription and activity of fungal catalases is modulated by FgOS-2. Among the genes regulated by FgOS-2, we found a putative calcium-dependent NADPH-oxidase (noxC) and the transcriptional regulator of ROS metabolism, atf1. The present study describes new aspects of stress-activated protein kinase signaling in F. graminearum.

scholarly journals Broad-spectrum inhibition of Phytophthora infestans by root endophytes

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie de Vries ◽  
Janina K. von Dahlen ◽  
Anika Schnake ◽  
Sarah Ginschel ◽  
Barbara Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phytophthora Infestans ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Agar Medium ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
List Type ◽  
In Planta

SummaryPhytophthora infestans (Phy. infestans) is a devastating pathogen of tomato and potato. It readily overcomes resistance genes and applied agrochemicals. Fungal endophytes provide a largely unexplored avenue of control against Phy. infestans. Not only do endophytes produce a wide array of bioactive metabolites, they may also directly compete with and defeat pathogens in planta.Twelve isolates of fungal endophytes from different plant species were tested in vitro for their production of metabolites with anti-Phy. infestans activity. Four well-performing isolates were evaluated for their ability to suppress nine isolates of Phy. infestans on agar medium and in planta.Two endophytes reliably inhibited all Phy. infestans isolates on agar medium, of which Phoma eupatorii isolate 8082 was the most promising. It nearly abolished infection by Phy. infestans in planta.Here we present a biocontrol agent, which can inhibit a broad-spectrum of Phy. infestans isolates. Such broadly acting inhibition is ideal, because it allows for effective control of genetically diverse pathogen isolates and may slow the adaptation of Phy. infestans.

scholarly journals Documentation of fungal endophytes of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and their seed transmission studies

1970 ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
K Sreeja ◽  
M Anandaraj ◽  
R Suseela Bhai
Keyword(s):  
Endophytic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Seed Transmission ◽  
Black Pepper ◽  
Piper Nigrum ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Fungal Propagules ◽  
Back Ground ◽  
Transmission Studies

The present study envisaged to document the endophytic fungal association with black pepper through a series of in vitro and in planta investigations. Black pepper was found to harbour endophytic fungal flora belonging to the genera Alternaria, Acremonium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Chaetomium, Curvularia, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Humicola, Paecilomyces, Rhizoctonia, Phoma and non-sporulating forms. Further, it was found that the endocarp of black pepper seed is free from culturable endophytic fungi. This was evident from the absence of culturable fungi in in vitro grown black pepper seedlings. The growth of fungi from the seedlings grown under green house conditions reveal that the fungal endophytes establish from fungal propagules falling on the (test) plants that may enter the plant tissues as back ground inoculum and grow as endophyte. This was also supported by the study that the type of endophytic fungi that harbour black pepper plants varied with geographical locations from where the samples were collected.

scholarly journals The Influence of the Grapevine Bacterial and Fungal Endophytes on Biomass Accumulation and Stilbene Production by the In Vitro Cultivated Cells of Vitis amurensis Rupr.

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1276
Author(s):  
Olga A. Aleynova ◽  
Andrey R. Suprun ◽  
Nikolay N. Nityagovsky ◽  
Alexandra S. Dubrovina ◽  
Konstantin V. Kiselev
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Cell Suspension ◽  
Endophytic Fungi ◽  
Endophytic Bacteria ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Vitis Amurensis ◽  
Grape Cell ◽  
Stilbene Biosynthesis

Plant endophytes are known to alter the profile of secondary metabolites in plant hosts. In this study, we identified the main bacterial and fungal representatives of the wild grape Vitis amurensis Rupr. microbiome and investigated a cocultivation effect of the 14 endophytes and the V. amurensis cell suspension on biomass accumulation and stilbene biosynthesis. The cocultivation of the V. amurensis cell culture with the bacteria Agrobacterium sp., Bacillus sp., and Curtobacterium sp. for 2 weeks did not significantly affect the accumulation of cell culture fresh biomass. However, it was significantly inhibited by the bacteria Erwinia sp., Pantoea sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Xanthomonas sp. and fungi Alternaria sp., Biscogniauxia sp., Cladosporium sp., Didymella sp. 2, and Fusarium sp. Cocultivation of the grapevine cell suspension with the fungi Didymella sp. 1 and Trichoderma sp. resulted in cell death. The addition of endophytic bacteria increased the total stilbene content by 2.2–5.3 times, while the addition of endophytic fungi was more effective in inducing stilbene accumulation by 2.6–16.3 times. The highest content of stilbenes in the grapevine cells cocultured with endophytic fungi was 13.63 and 13.76 mg/g of the cell dry weight (DW) after cultivation with Biscogniauxia sp. and Didymella sp. 2, respectively. The highest content of stilbenes in the grapevine cells cocultured with endophytic bacteria was 4.49 mg/g DW after cultivation with Xanthomonas sp. The increase in stilbene production was due to a significant activation of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and stilbene synthase (STS) gene expression. We also analyzed the sensitivity of the selected endophytes to eight antibiotics, fluconazole, and trans-resveratrol. The endophytic bacteria were sensitive to gentamicin and kanamycin, while all selected fungal strains were resistant to fluconazole with the exception of Cladosporium sp. All endophytes were tolerant of trans-resveratrol. This study showed that grape endophytes stimulate the production of stilbenes in grape cell suspension, which could further contribute to the generation of a new stimulator of stilbene biosynthesis in grapevine or grape cell cultures.

Impact of the biofungicide tetramycin on the development of Fusarium head blight, grain yield and deoxynivalenol accumulation in wheat

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-246
Author(s):  
W.Q. Shi ◽  
L.B. Xiang ◽  
D.Z. Yu ◽  
S.J. Gong ◽  
L.J. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Head Blight ◽  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Spore Germination ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Head Blight ◽  
Mycelium Growth ◽  
Key Aspects

Fusarium graminearum causes Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease that leads to extensive yield and quality loss in wheat and barley production. Integrated pest management (IPM) is required to control this disease and biofungicides, such as tetramycin, could be a novel addition to IPM strategies. The current study investigated in vitro tetramycin toxicity in Fusarium graminearum and evaluated its effectiveness for the control of Fusarium head blight FHB. Tetramycin was shown to affect three key aspects of Fusarium pathogenicity: spore germination, mycelium growth and deoxynivalenol (DON) production. The in vitro results indicated that tetramycin had strong inhibitory activity on the mycelial growth and spore germination. Field trials indicated that tetramycin treatment resulted in a significant reduction in both the FHB disease index and the level of DON accumulation. The reduced DON content in harvested grain was correlated with the amount of Tri5 mRNA determined by qRT-PCR. Synergistic effects between tetramycin and metconazole, in both the in vitro and field experiments were found. Tetramycin could provide an alternative option to control FHB.

PCR-RFLP for detection of Fusarium graminearum genotypes with resistance to phenamacril

Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiao-Sheng Li ◽  
Luo-Yu Wu ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Xiu-Shi Song ◽  
Jian-Xin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Conventional Method ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Head Blight ◽  
Fusarium Asiaticum ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Resistant Strains ◽  
Codon Mutation

Phenamacril is a cyanoacrylate fungicide that provides excellent control of Fusarium head blight (FHB) or wheat scab, which is caused predominantly by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium asiaticum. Previous studies revealed that codon mutations of the myosin-5 gene of Fusarium spp. conferred resistance to phenamacril in vitro lab experiments. In this study, PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) was developed to detect three common mutations (A135T, GCC to ACC at codon 135; S217L, TCA to TTA at codon 217, and E420K, GAA to AAA at codon 420) in F. graminearum induced by fungicide domestication in vitro. PCR products of 841 bp (for mutation of A135T), 802 bp (for mutation of S217L) or 1649 bp (for mutation of E420K) in myosin-5 gene were amplified respectively by appropriate primer pairs. Restriction enzyme KpnⅠ, TasⅠ or DraⅠ was used to distinguish phenamacril-sensitive and -resistant strains with mutation genotypes of A135T, S217L and E420K, respectively. KpnⅠ digested the 841 bp PCR products of phenamacri-resistant strains with codon mutation A135T into two fragments of 256 bp and 585 bp. In contrast, KpnⅠ did not digest the PCR products of sensitive strains. TasⅠ digested the 802 bp PCR products of phenamacril-strains with codon mutation S217L into three fragments of 461 bp, 287bp and 54 bp. In contrast, TasⅠ digestion of the 802 bp PCR products of phenamacril-sensitive strains resulted in only two fragments of 515bp and 287bp. DraⅠ digested the 1649 bp PCR products of phenamacril-resistant strains with codon mutation E420K into two fragments of 932 bp and 717 bp, while the PCR products of phenamacril-sensitive strains was not digested. The three genotypes of resistance mutations were determined by analyzing electrophoresis patterns of the digestion fragments of PCR products. The PCR-RFLP method was evaluated on 48 phenamacril-resistant strains induced by fungicide domestication in vitro and compared with the conventional method (mycelial growth on fungicide-amended agar). The accuracy of the PCR-RFLP method for detecting the three resistant mutation genotypes of F. graminearum to phenamacril was 95.12% compared with conventional method. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the PCR-RFLP method could also be used to detect the codon mutations of A135T and E420K in F. asiaticum.

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